i wrote this poem on the eve of my eighteenth birthday. it's the first poem that i've written without music, and the rhythm and rhyme didn't turn out exactly as planned, but it's from my heart. i was inspired mostly by maya angelou's poem "i know why the caged bird sings". i believe she was talking more about physical slavery than about slavery to the world itself, so i decided to add my own little touch. both topics deserve to be broached. my prayer is that eighteen (and whatever age you happen to be) would somehow really bring the freedom that's more true than the freedom the world sings to you when you're almost eighteen.
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freedom's the song that lulls me to sleep
at the foot of manhood's mountain steep
resting now to climb the stronger
to live a pleasured life the longer
to be my own self, just like the songbird
with naught but joy and peace to reap
but i feel not like a bird of the sky
preparing himself to leap into flight
i am that bird that's locked up in a cage
indulging in vanities day after day
with dwindling courage but increasing rage
too scared to live and unwilling to die
for i've heard the sound of an opening door
and i've felt the depths of the Lion's roar
but my wings have been clipped and my feet are tied
and it seems to be harder to learn to fly
than to stay in my cage and from freedom hide
so life remains easy, familiar, and poor
so finally now, in the darkness of night
comes a plea to be not only guided by Light
but prodded and pushed from the inside and out
and that hope would replace every inkling of doubt
so that i'd have the peace to dive into the Fount
of that life unknown but longed for despite
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